GIVING new combinations the chance to gel will be the main priority for coach Todd Barrow when his Bathurst Panthers take to Carrington Park on Friday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The men in black head into the pre-season Bathurst Panthers Knockout as defending champions and begin their latest campaign with a derby against St Pat’s.
Though Barrow wants his men win that match and advance to Sunday’s finals, his desire is more about game time than a title defence.
“Obviously we’d like to go as deep into the knockout as we can and get as much game time as we can considering we’ve had limited trials. But it’s that old cliche, we’ll take it one game at a time and see how we go,” Barrow said.
“Purely all I’m looking at it is getting time on the field and miles in the legs – I don’t have any expectations.
“I’d say the [Pat’s] team we play on Friday night will be very different to the one that plays in the first derby and will be the same with us, it’s about getting things right leading into round one.
“It will be good to see a few of the boys going around, especially our new halves Dougie [Hewitt] and Claude [Gordon].”
While Gordon played with the Panthers last season, Friday will mark Hewitt’s return after a stint with the Tweed Head Seagulls.
“I think Dougie is going to be really good for him [Gordon], he’ll take a lot of pressure off Claude. His organisation is good and even at training he’s been really good, he’s taking control,” Barrow said. “It will help Claude play that off the cuff footy he loves to play.”
The Panthers will take on Pat’s from 9pm on Friday.